Music-leaf turner.



J. W. ALBIN.

MUSIC LEAP TURNER. APPLICATION FILED APR.Z,1908.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

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J. W. ALBIN. MUSIC LEAF TURNER. APPLIGATION FILED APR.2,1908.

899,938, Patented Sept. 29, 1908'.

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UNITEB STAZTZ11 JEREMIAH W. ALBIN, OF BABYLON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-FOURTH TO DAVID OARRS RIOKETTS, OF BABYLON, NEW YORK.

MUSIC-LE AF TURN No. assess.

Application filed April 2, 1908.

Patented Eept. 29, 1908.

Serial No. 42 5,78 2.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, JEREMIAH WEsLnY ALBIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Babylon, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Music-Leaf Turner, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in music-leaf turners, and more par ticularly to that type of mechanism adapted for supporting sheet music, and having mechanism operating to successively turn the sheets.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the successive movements of an operating member serve to turn the several sheets in succession, and also serve to return all of said sheets to the original position to permit the piece to be played over again.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which Figure l is a front view of a music-leaf turner embodying my invention and illustrated as applied to a piano Fig. 2 is vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of the reverse side of a portion of the apparatus, showing the parts i the position occupied before any of the leaves are turned; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in the position occupied after the operating member has been moved to turn one leaf; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and i, but showing the parts in the position occupied after the operating member has turned second leaf; Fig. 6 is a substantially horizontal section on the line 66 of Fig. 3 Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 77 of Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a longitudinal section through the apparatus, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 2 and lool ng in the direction indicated by the arrow; big. 9 is a transverse section on approximately the line 9-9 of Fig. 6; Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are perspective views of the three slides employed; and Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the controlling springs.

In the specific construction illustrated i the accompanying drawings, 1 provide a supporting plate 10, having means connected thereto for rigidly but detachably securing the same to a piano, means for supporting the music, the sheets or leaves of which are to be turned, and means for engaging with the several leaves for turning them as the music is played, and for returning them to their original position after the piece is played or it is desired to go back and repeat. For securing the supporting plate 10 to the piano or other musical instrument or stationary body, two arms 11 are provided, pivotally secured to the rear side of the plate adjacent its ends and adapted to enga e with the upper side of the front panel n of the instruient below the cover thereof. These arms, as illustrated, are formed of rods pivotally mounted in brackets 12 and extending from the upper edge of the supporting plate 10 rearwardly to engage with the front side of the front panel A of the piano, thence upwardly to the upper edge of said panel, and thence transversely across the top of the panel. the end of each arm there is provided a plate 13, adapted to engage with the inner side of the piano front, and a wing nut 14 rotatably mounted upon the threaded end serves to force the plate 13 into position and locl; the arms rigid to the piano front. Those portions of the arms which engage with the piano, are preferably covered with a rubber tube 15 or other suitable soft material, to prevent the mar-ring of the instrument. Jifter the device is secured, as above described, the piano lid B is closed down upon the upper surface of the arms, so as to more effectively secure them in place. Secured to the lower edge of the supporting plate 10 are two sets of lazy tongs 16l6, connecting the supporting plate to a base 17. The latter is preferably provided with an outwardly-extending flange or projection, as indicated in Fig. 2, which serves to support the music at the lower edge thereof. The base 17 is preferably provided with braces 18 pivoted to the under side thereof and adapted to extend at substantially right angles to the general plane of the lazy-tong connections 16 and to engage with the front panel A of the piano and hold said base more iirml in position.

For turning the leaves or sheets of music, I provide a plurality of arms pivoted to the supporting plate 10, and each having means for attaching the same to a sheet or leaf at the upper edge of the latter. Any suitable number of arms may be provided, dependent upon the nature of the music or the number of leaves or pages to be turned. For purpose of illustration, 1 have selected a form in which there are two leaf-turning arms 19 and 29. The plate carries two brackets 21 and 22 for supporting a pivot 23, and the .wo arms 19 and are provided with hubs 24 anc 2 respectively mounted on said pivot. The plate is cut away adjacent the pivot, and each hub is provided with a plurality of teeth forming a segment gear. These gears extend through the opening in the plate, so that they may be rotated by longitudinally-movable rack bars on the rear side of the plate. Each arm is provided with means for securing the same to a sheet of music, said means preferably comprising pairs of jaws 25 held in engagement with each other by sliding collars 26. Each arm may be provided with as many of these pairs of jaws as desired, but, as illustrated, the arm 19 is provided with jaws at its outer end and also adjacent its hub, while the arm 20 is provided with jaws only adjacent its outer end. 7

Sn the rear side of the plate 19, I provide a plurality of slides or bars movable l0ngitudinally and having operative engagement with the hubs 24 and 24 so as to rotate the latter and swing the arms. The number of slides or longitudinall -movable bars is one greater than the number of leaf-turning arms, there being provided one slide for each arm and an extra slide, by means of which the arms are returned to their original position. As shown, I provide a slide 27 for the arm 19 and its hub 24, a slide 28 for the arm 20 and its hub 24 and a slide 29 serving to bring about the return movement of the other slides and their arms. The three slides are mounted side by side in engagement with the rear surface or" the plate 10 and are held in position by a guide block 30 and a bracket 31. The upper and lower ends of the guide block 30 are secured to the plate, while intermediate its ends it is cut away to receive the several slides. Intermediate the bracket 31 and the guide block 39, there is provided a second bracket 32 similar to the bracket 31, but preferably out of engagement with the several slides. The brackets 31 and 32 are formed of sheet metal and have base flanges 33 extending in opposite directions adjacent the upper and lower edges of the plate 10, so as to form guides for the upper and lower slides. with a series of teeth 28 on the side thereof toward the plate 10, which teeth are in engagement with the hub 24" of the arm 20, and the middle slide 27 is provided with similar teeth 27 in engagement with the hub of the arm 19. Thus, as either of these slides is moved longitudinally, the hub in engagement therewith is rotated and the arm can ried by said hub is moved away from engagement with one end of the plate, through an The uppermost slide 28 is provided arc of 180 degrees into engagement with the opposite end of the plate.- The slide 27 is provided not only with the teeth in engagement with the hub of the arm 19, but is also provided with a series of teeth 34 on the side thereof toward the lowermost slide 29. The slide 29 is provided with teeth 35 on its upper edge and oppositely disposed to the teeth 34.

Intermediate the toothed portions of the two slides 27 and 29 and mounted within the cutaway portion of the block 30, I provide a pinion in engagement with both of said rows of teeth. Thus, when either of the two slides 27 and 29 is moved longitudinally in one direction, the other of the two slides is moved a corresponding distance in the reverse direction through the instrumentality of the pinion 36.

It is desired to first swing the arm 19 from the position shown in Fig. 1 over into engagement with the left-hand end of the plate 19 to turn the first sheet of the music, to then swing the arm 20 over to a position adj acent the arm 19 to turn the second sheet of music, and to then return both arms to the position shown in Fig. 1, to permit the piece to be replayed. In order to lock the arm 20 and slide 28 against movement during the operation of the arm 19 and slide 27, I provide the slide 28 with a transverse groove 37, shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 10. A spring 38 is secured to the outer surface of the block 30 and is provided with a flange 39 extending along one side of the block 30 and ada ted to enter said groove 37 to lock the s ide 28 against longitudinal movement. The spring also carries a flange or projection 40, extendinglongitudinally of the slide 27 and adapted to engage with a cam-faced block 41 carried by said slide adjacent the end thereof. While the slides are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the slide 28 is positively locked in position. When the slide 27 is moved to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the cam 41 engages with the projection and raises the flange 39 of the spring 38 out of the groove 37. This liberates the slide 28 and permits of its movement.

To lock the slide 28 to the slide 27 so that the two slides will move together during their return movement and return both arms to their original position simultaneously, the slide 27 is provided with a transverse groove 42, shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 11.

The slide 28 is provided with a cam block 43 serving to support a spring 44, which latter is provided with a flange or projection 45 adapted to extend into the groove 42. The spring is also provided with a flange or projection 46, adapted to engage with the lower end of a cam lever 47 carried by the block 30. W ith the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the cam lever 47 holds the spring 44 outward and holds the projection 45 out of engagement with the groove 42.

The slide 27 may then be freely moved to "he osition shown in Fr e. 4 and S. This irreve- 11 1- 1 :1 J1 ment of me snee 2'1 heel-ates tne slide 28 from the spring 38 and permits the slide to be in ved to the position shown in lug. As soon as it reaches this position, the flange A pf tla w i @44 0 U n r r :7. 0 1 *0 0 Au 3;) 1115 .C el lbulS flu iOv. C 1- LL11 locks the slides 27 and 28 together. Now, upon the lon itudinal m cven'ient oi the slide c 29, the pinion 36 is rotated. and the two slides 27 and 28 are returned simultaneousl it there is but one sheet to the music, the two arms may be moved simultaneously in bc'h directions by moving the cam lever l? from the position shown in solid lines ll Figs. 3, and 5, to the position indicated in drtted lines. i 'i hile in the dcted position, the "irejection 46 of th 4 the cam lever, so that the two slides 28 remain permanently l red The cam lever enters beneath tli free end o the spring 38 and he es the flange 39 thereo permanently out of the groove 3'7.

ln orde" move the slides in the oroer above referred to, I provide an operating member, preferably in the term of a longitudinally-movable rod 48, mounted in the brackets 31 and W and held substantially 01/ parallel to the slides but spaced a short distance therefrom. The rod may be moved longitudinally in any suitable manner, but, as illustrated, the rod is provided with a cord or Wire e9 connected to one end thereof for moving the rod in one direction, and is provided with a coil spring encircling one end and en ag ng with the bracket 82 for moving the rod in the opposite direction. The rod carries a finger 00 extending toward the slides, and each of the slides is provided with a stop between the brackets 31 and 32 for engagement with the linger, and also a cam for moving the finger about th red as an axis and to bring end of the finger into engagement with the stop of another slide. Each of the steps is preferably in the form of a transverse lug or ge extending across the rear surface of the correspondi g slide. The stop 51 on the slide 28 and the sto 352 on the slide 27 are suchpositionsin 'espect to each other, that they are in alineinent, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, when the two arms 19 and 20 are in positions adjacent each other. Before either the two leaf-turr"g arm is moved, the two steps 51 and 52 are intermediate th two brackets 31 and .1.

but alter lDObll oi the arms have been moved to turn the two pages, the stops both in alinement with the bracket 31. A stop on the slide 29 moves through the same disgagement with the finger at) and m ving the latter trairrferse' y of the slides. The cam block carried by the slide 28 extends from adjacent the upper edge of said slide to adjacent the lower edge the slide This cam block is movable from a point anjacent t e guide bloch through an opening in the 'acliet to a position between the brackets and 'dly toward said guide block. This cam cl; serves the double purpose of operating i .iger 50, and supporting the sp ing The guide block 5% carried by terminates substantially flush r and lower edges of said slide, edge is t pered or downwardlypposite directions from a point neoiat the or ds of the block. When one two arms 19 and are in positions adjacent each othr, inclined edge of the I adjacent to and spaced from the edg or the block a distance suliicientiy great to ierniit the finger to pass therebetween. The cam blocl; 55 carried by the slide extends il'()1 a point below the cenail slide upward to a point interthe edges of the central slide 27. The o -e of this cam block av. y from the 1 "iciined downwardly to guide bio-cl: 36, w rd the bracket 'lhe tvvo brackets 31 and 32 are connected together at their outer ones by a rod 56, ad-

acent to the operating member 18, and said operating meirbcr carries a plate 57 rigidly secured thereto, said plate having a notch in the edge thereof to receive the rod 56 and prevent the rotation 01" the rod 48 and its plate 57, as 1 arly shown in 7. The linger 5G is pivoted to the rod adjacentthe piate and movable in a plane parallel with the surface se plate and in engagement therewith. e ,er carri a springprssed pin 5 longitudinally movable therethrough hat the end which engages with the plate may enter any one of a plurality of holes or depressions 59 in said plate. The engagement of th pin with the holes or depressions 59 serv s to hold the linger in a definite position in respect to the plate, save when the finger moved by the action of one of the cams.

nay be brietly described as follows: All 01 he parts are in the position indicated in Fig. before either of the arms 19 or 20 is moved 0 turn a page or leaf of the music. The at this time is in the position shown that is, it is in the center of its three positions and terminates closely adjacent the slide 27. By moving the operating member longitudinally to the position incheated in Fig. l, the slide 27 is moved and the leaf-turning arm 19 swung to turn a leaf or page. The movement of the slide 27 causes a movement of the slide 29 in the reverse direction under the action of the pinion, while the slide 28 is locked against movement by the engagement of the spring 38 in the groove 37. Upon the return movement of the operating member, the finger engages with the cam block 54 and is moved upwardly so that its point terminates adjacent the upper slide 28. Upon moving the operating member 48 longitudinally a second time, the finger engages with the stud 51 and moves the slide 28 to the position indicated in Fig. 5, which moves the cam block 43 through the bracket 32. Upon the return movement of the operating member, the finger engages with the cam surface of the block i5 and is moved downwardly, so as to terminate adjacent the surface of the lower slide 29. Upon moving the operating member 48 against the action of the spring a third time, the finger engages with the stud 53 and moves the reversing slide 29, which, through the action of the pinion and the locking mechanism between the slides 27 and 28, causes both of said last-mentioned slides to return to their original positions. Now, upon the return movement of the operating member 48', the finger engages with the surface of the cam block 55 and is moved upwardly to the original position adjacent the surface of the middle slide 27.

As previously stated, the operating member is moved longitudinally in one direction by the pulling upon the cord or wire 49. The cord may be connected to any suitable mechanism for pulling the same, as, for in stance, a series of pulleys and levers connectmay operate the turner as frequently as desired without necessitating the use of the hands.

Having thus described my invention, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A music-leaf turner, comprising a plurality of leaflturnin arms, a slide operatively connected to each of said arms and movable longitudinally to swing the same, an auxiliary slide, connections whereby it serves up on its longitudinal movement to return all of the first -mentioned slic er" and arms to their original position, and a rin le operating member for all of said slides 9 A music-leaf turner, comprising a plurality of leaf-turning arms, slides operatively connected thereto for swinging said arms, an operating member having a fin 'eradapted to engage with the slides to move said arms in succession in one directi n, and means for locking said slides together, whereby the arms will be moved simultaneously in one direction.

mg one end to a pedal, whereby the musician 3. A music-leaf turner, comprising a leafturning arm having a hub, a slide in operative engagement with said hub for swinging said arm, a second slide, a pinion intermediate said slides and in engagement with both, an operating member and means whereby it is adapted to engage with said slides in succession for moving them longitudinally to sw'ng said arm back and forth.

4. A music-leaf turner, comprising a plurality of leaf-turning arms, a slide operatively connected to each of said arms for swinging them in one direction, a reversing slide operatively connected to one of the first-mentioned slides for swinging said arms in the reverse direction, and means for locking together the first-mentioned slides while they move in one direction and permitting their independent movement in the reverse direction.

5. A musicleaf turner, comprising a plurality of leaf-turning arms, a plurality of slides operatively connected to said arms, each of said slides having a stop and a cam block, an operating member substantially parallel to said slides, and a finger carried by said operating member and adapted to engage with said sto s for moving said slides longitudinally, said inger being moved transversely of said slides by means of said blocks.

6. A music-leaf turner, comprising a plurality of leaf-turning members, members one operatively connected to each of said firstmentioned members and movable to swing the same, an auxiliary member operatively connected to return all of the first-mentioned members and all of the second-mentioned members to their original position, and a single operating member for said second-mentioned members and said auxiliary member.

7. A music-leaf turner, comprising a plurality of leaf-turnin arms, slides operatively connected thereto for swin ing said arms, an

a n operating member for moving said slides to swing said arms in succession in one direction, and means whereby said operating member returns all of said slides and arms simultaneously in the reverse direction.

8. A music-leaf turner, comprising plurality of leaf-turning arms, a plurality of slides operatively connected to said arms, an operating member for moving said slides lonitudinally in succession to swing said arms, means for locking said slides together, an auxiliary slide, and a pinion intermediate said auxiliary slide and one of said first-mentioned slides.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEREMIAH W. ALBIN.

W itnesses ROYAL C. DU LITTLE, CHESTER S. HAwKINs. 

